Monday, 21 November 2011

Hey everyone,

Emma had her most recent examination last Friday. It was disappointing to say the least. Doctors added 4 new medications to her regimen and have determined that she must undergo continued and focused treatment for the next 6 months. So, it seems, we will continue with all 8 of the medications for the next 6 months at least and very likely longer I suppose (or maybe it is just me that is thinking that).

Please continue to pray for us. And, especially for Emma.

Thanks.

Friday, 11 November 2011

Hi Y’all….

 

Things are going well here.  Emma’s doing well too.

 

We took her to the hospital yesterday to have blood drawn in preparation for her appointment next week.  While she was having her blood drawn it struck me that God really does have a sense of humor.  It wasn’t too long ago that Emma was THE child in the family that hated needles.  In the past, she’s had such an emotional reaction to having to get a shot that I’ve seen blood shoot several feet from the injection point.  Now, she just sits calmly and waits as the doctor(s) do their thing.

 

It is amazing to me that the Lord would take our one child who hates needles and give to them a condition that requires they get stuck frequently.  I am not sure I will ever understand how or why He does things.

 

Hope you all have a great weekend.

 

sf

Saturday, 5 November 2011

Our little family reunion has been sweet and precious.  Cannot put it into words how great it has been to see all of the kids.  It is amazing how much some of them grew in the just under 3 months we were gone.

 

Everybody is doing fine.  We are patiently waiting to see what the Lord has in mind for us over the next several months. 

 

Emma’s next appointment is in a about 2 weeks so we’ll know more then.  Please pray for her.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Steve

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

Hello Everyone,
 
The kids and I made it back to the States today without any problems whatsoever.  Our reunion was sweet and, at times, tear filled.
 
We enjoyed a great lunch and a quiet evening.  Winding the day down at 8 PM tonight as I type this.
 
Thanks for your prayers.
 
Steve

Monday, 31 October 2011

Hey There,
 
Kids and I are about ready for our return to the States.  Have got just a bit of last minute packing and a few loose end to tie up and then we'll be ready.
 
It really is with mixed emotions that we are returning.  On the one hand we'll be reunited with family, my family - Janice and the kids.  But, on the other hand, we are leaving (at least for a while) the place where are hearts want to be and where our Call has placed us.
 
We can only trust and wait and listen.  In His time He will make His plans known to us.
 
I will continue blogging while we are in the States so that everyone can be up to date on our family and especially Emma.
 
Thanks for praying.
 
sf

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Found out today we all will be returning to the States on November 1st.  That is, we will leave Chad on the 1st. and arrive at SEATAC on the 2nd.  A mixture of relief, sadness, and perplexity.  Not sure what the future holds except that we want to be nowhere except in His will.
 
See you.

Monday, 24 October 2011

Hi Y'all,

Hope you and your family are doing well. We are "hanging in there" around here. Despite the fact the Welcome Center has been quite busy we have had relatively quiet days. All of the equipment seems to be running pretty reliably and our guests seem to be reasonably happy and well cared for. So, that's all good.

What's not all good is that the 6 of us that are here will be returning to the States within the next week or two because Emma's situation has not improved. If anything it has become more complicated and it is precisely its complicated nature that has necessitated our return for it is probable that Emma's condition will require at least 4 more months of treatment and investigation before she can be officially declared stabilized. And, without her condition stabilized we cannot go back to Chad. We are confident that a solution can be found which gives her stability and that we will also find a doctor or two in Chad who can continue her care by performing regular examinations of Emma. But, until then, we have decided (along with our Mission) that the best thing to do is to reunite as a family.

So, it's back to the States.

Please pray for Emma. And pray for our family.

Have a great week.

Friday, 14 October 2011

Life is never dull here.  There always seems to be something going on that makes life interesting.  The last few weeks are no exception.
 
In a developing country such as Chad one might expect to encounter shortages of various things like fuel and electricity.  For example, right now we are about 2 weeks into a diesel shortage and over a month into a propane shortage.   Ordinarily you'd think that problems related to amenities such as those would probably have to do with delivery problems because of a poor transportation network or lack of production facilities.  That's not the case in here. 
 
The diesel shortage apparently has its roots in a disagreement between the government and the local refinery.  There's plenty of diesel if only the two parties could agree on a price per liter.  What this means for everybody here is long lines at the gas station and rationing of what diesel we currently have on had.  For now, gas stations will not fill barrels so we have been siphoning diesel from our Land Cruisers and putting it in our barrels.  Hopefully, the diesel will begin to flow more regularly and the pent-up demand will dissipate and we can all get back to normal.
 
The propane shortage is a bit more sticky.  Word on the street is that there's sort of a strike taking place.  The local venders want to charge more for the propane however they are not being allowed to.  So, they've just stopped selling it.  We are lucky.  We've got a decent supply at the Welcome Center.   But, it won't last forever.  Nobody seems to know when propane will be available.  I certainly hope soon!!!
 
Have a great weekend.
 
Steve

Saturday, 8 October 2011

Hey...
 
We are chugging along here in Chad.  Things are pretty stable except that we cannot purchase diesel or propane in town right now.  I do not know when we will be able to purchase either one.  We've heard that perhaps in another week or so we will be able to get diesel.  No word on the propane.
 
We also found out yesterday that Emma will need another 4 months in the States.   So, we don't know what the future holds for our family here or in the States. 
 
Please pray for us as we seek the Lord's wisdom and counsel.
 
Until next time...

Wednesday 5 October 2011

Hey There!
 
Been feeling kinda low the last couple of days.  News from home hasn't been great.  Feel like we're suffering as a family.  Not fun.  But, we can take encouragement from the Word.  From the devitional, Streams in the Desert, we read,
 
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me" (Ps. 138:8).

There is a Divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural power in it, which has never been fathomed by the human reason. There never has been known great saintliness of soul which did not pass through great suffering. When the suffering soul reaches a calm sweet carelessness, when it can inwardly smile at its own suffering, and does not even ask God to deliver it from suffering, then it has wrought its blessed ministry; then patience has its perfect work; then the crucifixion begins to weave itself into a crown.

It is in this state of the perfection of suffering that the Holy Spirit works many marvelous things in our souls. In such a condition, our whole being lies perfectly still under the hand of God; every faculty of the mind and will and heart are at last subdued; a quietness of eternity settles down into the whole being; the tongue grows still, and has but few words to say; it stops asking God questions; it stops crying, "Why hast thou forsaken me ?"

The imagination stops building air castles, or running off on foolish lines; the reason is tame and gentle; the choices are annihilated; it has no choice in anything but the purpose of God. The affections are weaned from all creatures and all things; it is so dead that nothing can hurt it, nothing can offend it, nothing can hinder it, nothing can get in its way; for, let the circumstances be what they may, it seeks only for God and His will, and it feels assured that God is making everything in the universe, good or bad, past or present, work together for its good.

Oh, the blessedness of being absolutely conquered! of losing our own strength, and wisdom, and plans, and desires, and being where every atom of our nature is like placid Galilee under the omnipotent feet of our Jesus. –

 

The best and only choice is to completely die to Christ so that He is glorified through my life.  So, we will wait and listen and ready ourselves for what He commands us next to do.

 

Pray for us!

 

sf

Saturday, 1 October 2011

Now only 9 days until Jancie and the kids arrive in Chad.  Compared to that event, everything else that is going on here seems to pale in comparison.
 
We had a good week.  The solar panels are now firmly in place and we've enjoyed solar power provided electricity for the past couple of days.  The system appears to be working quite nicely but I'm still not happy with the performance.  Seems like we cannot supply power to the Welcome Center for very long.  Certainly not as long as I'd like or as long as I believed we could.  So, more work remains on getting that situation worked out.
 
It is a happy time around here as two of our employees are getting married this month.  Marriages, and dating for that matter, are different here than in the States.  In both cases, the men live many miles from the fiancées who both actually live in their villages down south (it is an 8 hour plus drive by car) and so they don't see each other very often.  Maybe in a later post I will tell you about the other differences between Chadian culture and American culture as it pertains to dating and marriage ceremonies, etc.
 
For now, have a great day!

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Well, things have been busy around here the last several days.  Have spent much time working on the solar panels: getting them into place, securing them, and wiring them up.  I think by the end of today I'll be ready to turn them back on and see what happens.  Hopefully I've made no mistakes and everything will work as it should.
 
Kids are doing well.  Everybody is healthy and reasonably happy.  I say "reasonably happy" because their momma's not here and that isn't an easy thing to deal with under the best of circumstances.  Throw in being 1/2 a world away and at times difficult communication and it makes it even more difficult to deal with.  However, considering everything, the kids are doing remarkably well.  They are happy with their lives here and really do enjoy their friends and their home.
 
More of the same planned today.  I hope to post pictures of the solar panels in the next day or two.
 
Enjoy the day.

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Hey!
 
Well, we've had quite an eventful week thus far.  What started with a huge windstorm on Sunday has turned out to be a very hot and humid week.  We even had another small windstorm and it has rained at least 3 different times.
 
The good news is that the solar panel supports are back up on the roof after having been straightened out and repositioned.  Tomorrow they will be welded to the containters and hoepfully that will eliminate the problem of the flying solar panels.
 
Also, the roof over my office has been rebuilt and all that remains is the concrete work and some additional concrete work on the leading edge of the sheet metal.
 
We have been blessed by a work crew that has really gotten after it and things have come together nicely.
 
As Hanibal would say, "I love it when a plan comes together!"
 
Have a great day.

Sunday, 18 September 2011

Had a bit of a windstorm today along with a very heavy thunder storm.  Thankfully nobody was hurt.
 
We can repair the damage but we won't have any solar power for a while.
 
This damage happened because the wind came from a direction from which it normally does not come.... from the North.
 
Please pray that we can get this repaired quickly.
 
sf

Thursday, 15 September 2011

A shout out today must be given to Gracey....
 
She's been such a huge Blessing to me (and her siblings) during our separation from the rest of the family.  She cooks, she cleans, she even homeschools the kids all the while never complaining or grousing.  She is such a pleasure to be around and has gone out of her way to allow me to do what I need to do at the Welcome Center.
 
She is such a Godly young woman.  And, a great example to her siblings.
 
Love you, Gracey!!!
 
 

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Well, things are chugging along pretty good except for the weather.  It has been very humid and I don't particularly care for humid.  I'm sticky all the time, my glasses fog up on occasion, and everything in the house seems to be perpetually damp.  It has also been wonderfully cool with highs only into the mid-90's.
 
Kids are all doing well but they miss their siblings and of course their mother.
 
Tawnee's obviously been thinking about her mom because last night she asked me if, when Janice and I got married, I was nervous kissing mom in front of everybody at the wedding.  I told her no I wasn't nervous and she said oh that's weird!
 
Hope you all have a great day....

Monday, 5 September 2011

Hey there....
 
The saga of the generator continues.  We've now entered a rather strange condition:  The generator runds fines.  Goes for hours without a problem.  Only thing is it is still leaking oil and today we had the radiator removed so it could be cleaned.  This won't do much for the leaking oil (that fix will come later this week).  But, it should help with the non-functioning radiator.  Thankfully, it hasn't been that hot so there's been no problem.
 
The kids and I are doing well.  Everybody's healthy and we've all been eating pretty well.  Today we had fish and chips.  That is probably one of my favorite, if not favorite, things to eat here.  And, tonight we are having hobo stew.  First time I had hobo stew was in France when Payton and I went camping with some of the students at the language school we attended.
 
I expect to see the return of the radiator tonight and then we'll have electricity!.... maybe.
 
Been working my way through a myriad of paperwork in the office.  The last 4 months or so for Marcos were particularly difficult and things in the office bear that out.  No worries, though.  I'll just keep plugging along until it is done.
 
Solar panels and batteries are still giving me fits.  Performed many checks and verifications of connections and wires.  Just waiting to hear from my comrades in the States who have been helping me with the system.
 
Until next time....
 
Blessings.

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Been a very pleasant couple of days.  The generator has performed well.  The battery / solar system has worked well. (I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the Welcome Center only has one guest in it?)  We've been eating good.  Kids have behaved.  We have cold water.  Even had a few minutes to watch something on the computer with the kids.  About the only complaint has been the humidity.  This morning when I came outside at 4:30 am it felt like I was walking into misty air.  Of course there wasn't any mist but the humidity has got to be near 100%.  Hasn't been that warm.  Highs have been around 95 degrees.  But this humidity really is terrible.  The nicest thing I can say about the humidity is that my hands don't need as much lotion as normal!

 

Was able to get Emma's tests that she needs translated into French today.  That should help us when we go to a lab.  We had had a bit of trouble figuring out exactly if the local labs could provide the tests or not.  The doctor that translated the tests for me said that our local hospital (it is 10 minutes away) should have no trouble providing the tests.  (He said he's even been there to look at their setup and it is quite good.)

 

As I said, the generator has ran perfectly for the last several days.  No complaints except that it is leaking oil.  Our mechanic will be by on Saturday to fix it and hopefully that will cure the problem and we can then enter a nice "quiet" period of generator use. 

 

I've been able to chat via Face Book with Janice and the kids several times this week.  That is such a great thing to be able to do.  I would love to be able to do that right now too if only I could get online (I'm typing this offline since our internet connection isn't working).

 

Have a great day!

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Today is the end of Ramadan feast.  Our neighborhood has a very festive mood with lots of new and brightly colored dresses and clothing.  And, there's lots of food.
 
You know, our Muslim friends are just like our friends in the States.  They have many religious holidays where they celebrate important dates and during those celebrations friends and family stop by to share in some fellowship and food.
 
They are, for the most part, living their lives in a way that is very much the same as anybody you or I might know in North America.  They want the same things:  good health, obedient children, food, shelter, clothing, etc.
 
They have also accepted us as part of their neighborhood and they take care of us.  We love it.
 
Hope you all have a great day.

Sunday, 28 August 2011

This is officially the 2 week point in our return to Chad. Things are going well, I suppose, considering....
 
It is also the official 2 week anniversary of my separation from my wife and kids. (And it is no less easy on those children I have with me.) This is not much fun, really, but I can honestly say that this isn't something that we "have to" do but something that we "get to" do. I've learned over the years that the Lord likes to put me in situations that really grab my attention and that is only in those circumstances that I can finally and clearly hear what He's saying to me. I've also learned that it is precisely those events that He allowed me to go through that really make a differnce in my life. This separation, then, mustn't be looked at as a long slog through heavy mud but instead as something that has been graciously given to me and my family by The One who knows our every thought, fear, and need. He loves us so much that we "get to" go through these times wherein He can speak into our lives so clearly and wonderfully words of comfort and wisdom and love.
 
Today I was reading Psalm 94. It's a Psalm about how God needs to take vengence on the ungodly. But, within that Psalm are some beautiful truths that spoke deeply to me.
 
Verses 9-14: "He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who chastises the nations, shall He not punish, He who teaches man knowledge? Jehovah knows the thoughts of man, that they are a mist. Blessed is the man You chasten, O Jehovah, You teach him out of Your Law; to give him rest from troubled days, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For Jehovah will not leave His people; nor will He forsake His inheritance."
 
Verse 19 says, "In the multitude of my inward thoughts, Your comforts delight my soul."
 
And, finally, verse 22 says, "But Jehovah is my tower of defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge."
 
After reading verses like these I get reminded that I serve a very big God and that because He's so big He can be my all in all. There's nothing beyond His grasp and He wants me, He wants all of us, to comfort us and defend us. And, He will never forget us. Ever.
 
I really needed to hear that this morning. Maybe you did too.
 
Blessings!!!

 

Saturday, 27 August 2011

Been a very busy couple of days since my last post.
 
The big generator was repaired then it sprung a leak and had to be shut down.
 
Our new solar panels and batteries haven't been working right so some Brothers from the States are helping me (long distance) to figure out what the problem is and then how to fix it.
 
We had to call the little red generator into operation again last night.  Despite the ugliness (and danger) of using it it did a great job.  Although, it does have a tendancy to vary the voltage so it fried a couple of things.
 
I came down with a case of Malaria.  Am feeling better though.  Took a nap today and that helped.
 
Went to town on Friday.  Kids always like going.  We noticed that a couple of our favorite hang outs had moved.... and we were able to find their new locations.  That is good since one is a favorite restaurant of Janice's.
 
We've been eating pretty well.
 
We even managed to sell a few items that the Mission didn't use.
 
All in all a pretty good week I think.
 
Bye 

Sunday, 21 August 2011

Had a very good day.  Relaxed.  Played some games.  Just took it nice and easy.  Also got to talk to Janice and the kids.  Awesome.
 
The big Perkins generator is inching closer to working.  May be able to actually generate some electricity with it this week.
 
Been having problems with the solar system.  Appears that at least one string of solar panels isn't working properly.  Troubleshooting that with a friend in the States.
 
The red backup generator broke down last night after running for about 2 hours.  We were able to get it back up and running but it wasn't fun.  Managed to cut myself in the process.  (This is no surprise to my family as I cannot work on anything without cutting myself somehow.  It just took a little longer than normal.)
 
Thankfully, our fix "took" and the generator ran all night.  What a blessing it is to have fans at night.
 
 

Sunday, 21 August 2011

Nice and lazy Sunday morning.  Have spent most of the morning troubleshooting our solar system.  It is nice to have some time to check it and then think about it a bit.  Thankfully, too, I've got friends in the States who can help me with it. 
 
Also thought I'd upload a few photos of our backup generator.  As you can see, it is quite dirty and messy.  Notice the control panel.  It is suspended in mid-air because when the generator is running it otherwise shakes so badly wires come loose and it catches fire.  I think even McGyver would blush at such a thing.

Saturday, 20 August 2011

Been a very busy and interesting couple of days.  We've gone for long periods of time without electricity, had a generator catch fire, mangaged to repair not one but two generators, and effect those repairs in such a way that it would make even McGyver blush.
 
We've also had fun.  The kids have really enjoyed playing around their home and at the Welcome Center.  And, they were very glad to go to town yesterday.  We noticed a few things that were different.  One obvious thing was the price of diesel and gasoline.  It is just about half the price it was last year at this time.  Apparently a new refinery just went on line.  I'm sure everyone is glad about the price.  What they're not so happy about is the general lack of either diesel or gasoline.  Soon the supply will catch up to demand as the refinery reaches its production limit.
 
We are all healthy although more than a few of us have lost some weight since we arrived.  We have thus started on our Chadian diet again.
 
More later.

Thursday, 18 August 2011

We've now been back on the Dark Continent since Sunday.  Filled most of our time with getting settled back into our home.  Have also been getting reacquainted with the office.  And, have reestablished old friendships.... something that I've enjoyed very much.
 
I came back with Gracey, Liddy, Ethan, Tawnee and Esther.  Janice is still in the States with the remaining children.  They will remain there for the next couple of months as there are some things that need her personal touch.
 
Last night was interesting:  Our backup generator caught fire.  We were able to get it turned off before much damage was done.  However, the control unit was fried pretty bad.  A couple of us tried to patch it back together, which I think we could've done, but we gave up once we realized that some of the connectors had melted so badly their condition was beyond our expertise to fix.  So, we spent the night without electricity.  It is good that the temperatures are not too bad (low 80's at night) but it is awefully humid.  Some of the kids slept on our screened front porch.
 
More later.
 
sf
 
 

Wednesay 17 August 2011

Hey There!
 
After a 1 year hiatus I'm firing the blog back up.  Our home assignment is over and most of the family is back in Chad.  In the next day or two I will try to fill you all in on what's going on.  For now though, this post will have to suffice.
 
More later.
 
sf

Return to Chad

Just the other day Steven and 5 of our children boarded a plane bound for Paris, France, then 8 hours later settled into their seats in the back of the next plane flying straight to N'djamena, Chad. The flights went well and they arrived safely at our home just in time to snuggle into their very own beds that they haven't seen in a year. It's hot and humid right now as the rainy season is still going strong.
The neighbors were excited to see all those that arrived with lots of laughter and happy tears and hugs all around.
Steven is put right to work as the generators are not running at this moment, but he and Dan are working to get them going.
Alex, Payton, Emma and Keturah are taking their last camping trip before school starts back up. Our year here in the states has seen sadness, happiness(of course!), new friendships, old friendships renewed and great connections with our L.B. churches in this area. What a wonderful, generous church God has established here in the Pacific Northwest. You should all be very proud of the way you allowed God to work through you to touch our lives. It has been overwhelming at times and we see God's hand over us through it all.

Of course it is hard to leave our mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, grammas and papas, and dear friends. We are grateful for our time and memories with them and will cherish and think of them often while in Chad. God has put that call in our hearts to be in Chad, especially when we are working and living among it's people. We are blessed(happy) to live and work in Africa but most of all we are honored God has called upon our lives to do the work He has for our little neighborhood and the Welcome Center and those that come and stay there.
We have encouraged many this year to come and stay at the Welcome Center for a time. We hope you do! That would be so fun to show you around.

Psalm 34: 8-10

Thanksgving 2010

Here's the latest family photo for Thanksgiving. Awesome!